Letter to the editor: Slow down, Silverthorne, you move too fast, you’ve got to make the morning last

Shame on the Town of Silverthorne for allowing yet another new, high-end (read; not for locals) housing development on the banks of the Blue River. Silverthorne is reveling in a boom, which is terrific, but they need to create conscious development plans that take into consideration the beauty and respect for the environment.

It's ironic that Silverthorne's sign sports a trout jumping from the river, when it seems the town leaders have little respect for the river. It is now lined with outlets, high-end housing, and commercial development. The least they could do is create zoning so the apartments are set back from the river, offering the public better access and views. Other towns, like Vail, do this. The fact that the planning commission actually requested the units be pushed closer to the river for better property value is absurd; that you'd let a building be built over 40 feet high is irresponsible and disrespectful for the general public. There are options. You could force the developer to break up the units (they're ugly anyway) and not build them so high. Better yet, how about the Town of Silverthorne buys the property and creates a space for all to share?

Currently, there is no park along the river, and other than a bike path, there's little access for people to enjoy it—unless, of course, you're wealthy enough to afford high-end housing. Plenty of areas in Silverthorne are run-down and could be revitalized. Build developments on the West side of town. How about putting the time and energy for development into those areas instead of building along the banks of a river already congested with commercialization?